NewGen Energy wins the Energy Chamber’s inaugural Innovation and Technology Challenge at the T&T Energy Conference.
The Energy Chamber’s first Innovation and Technology Challenge was launched in the run up to the T&T Energy Conference 2022. The Energy Chamber received 21 applications which were reviewed by an expert panel comprising persons from the energy sector and academia. These applications were whittled down to a shortlist of 5 companies which presented their innovations at the T&T Energy Conference on June 1st, 2022.
Delegates were asked to vote on the most innovative project.
Emerging on top was NewGen Energy’s project on developing a carbon neutral hydrogen project. Presenting on NewGen’s behalf was Abigail Barnwell, Project Engineer for NewGen Energy.
The NewGen project aims to produce hydrogen through the electrolysis of water using electricity supplied from green and energy-efficient power sources. While the technology that drives the electrolysis is not new, the project takes an innovative approach to securing the necessary electricity from carbon neutral sources and providing the hydrogen as feedstock to the existing ammonia industry in Point Lisas. The project is a major investment and will have a significant climate impact, removing approximately 165,000 metric tonnes of Co2 per year compared to the current process. For more information on the project, you can contact: abarnwell@newgenenergyltd.com
The runner up was Energy Dynamics. The Energy Dynamics team led by Andre Escalante was supported by Energy Engineer, Chrisse Stowe, and presented on their project to create a sustainable, clean, climate resilient energy system. They shared details of their projects in Jamaica as an example of their innovative approach to delivering sustainable and energy efficient solutions. Their innovative approach uses waste heat from LNG generators to run absorption chillers and significantly reduce the energy used for cooling. Solar energy with battery storage can also be incorporated into their project delivery approach, which delivers significant energy savings, lower carbon emissions and lower costs. One example of their approach has been at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies. For more information on the project, contact: charisse@energydynamics-lac.com and andre@energydynamics-lac.com
A team from the University of the West Indies, Dr. Sephra N. Rampersad and Amanda C. Ramdass, presented their innovation: Ecosystem partnerships to create microbial oil-degraders. The team developed novel biosurfactants and biocatalysts that are produced in an ecosystem partnership among specific microbial oil-degraders that are indigenous to Trinidad which have been isolated from several natural crude oil seeps and Marac-Moruga Mud Volcano. These biosurfactants and biocatalysts can be used to safely clean crude oil sludge from the bottom of tanks, pipelines and other pieces of equipment in an environmentally friendly manner. These oil degraders help reduce residues in equipment and improve performance and efficiency and could be used to clean up polluted environments. For more information on the project, contact: Sephra.Rampersad@sta.uwi.edu and ac_ramdass@hotmail.com
Ancel Bhagwandeen of Belec Power & Energy Solutions presented on an innovation in battery recycling called "The Battery Alchemist". A team BELEC Ltd and PROTOFABTT developed innovative new techniques for battery recycling and recertifying, which allows the batteries to be put back into productive use. The team originally developed the innovations around lead acid batteries, found in internal combustion engine vehicles, boats and many other uses, but have now developed the technology to also recycle lithium batteries found in electric vehicles and hybrids. With the projected massive increase in EV use and the general electrification of energy systems in response to climate change, this innovation promises to be increasingly relevant and to meet a growing market demand. For more information on the project, contact: protofabtt@gmail.com or tabitha.belec@gmail.com
The final team comprised of Celwin Tirath and Neil Beekie of OperAid who developed software designed to reduce human error in operations and increase operational assurance. The software provides an automated audit trail of work as prescribed in Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), checklists, isolation (lockout/tagout) procedures and pre-start-up safety reviews (PSSR). By reducing the potential for human error in complex oil, gas and petrochemical operational processes the system could help improve process safety and reduce potential environmental impacts and loss of life. The software verifies work as it is executed and therefore helps prevent field mistakes in real time. For more information on this project, contact: neil@operaidsoft.com and celwin@operaidsoft.com
The Energy Chamber wishes to thank all of the applicants to the Innovation and Technology Challenge. We received good feedback on all the projects. We will have another Innovation and Technology Challenge at the T&T Energy Conference in 2023 - which takes place from January 23rd - 25th, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain Trinidad.
From L-R: Dr Thacwray Driver, President and CEO, Energy Chamber, Andre Escalante and Charisse Stowe, Energy Dynamics, Amanda Ramdass, UWI, Abigail Barnwell, NewGen Energy, Celwin Tirath and Neil Beekie, OperAid, Ancel Bhagwandeen, BELEC and Dr Graham King, Innovation and Technology Judge.